Three fisheries stocks from the Northeast – Georges Bank haddock, Atlantic pollock and spiny dogfish – have now been rebuilt to healthy levels, bringing to 21 the number that have been rebuilt nationwide since 2000, according to a report to Congress from NOAA’s Fisheries Service issued today.

Funds Will Go into Sportsman Fund Created with CCA in 2010

Posted on July 14, 2011

New Berlin, Wis. (July 15, 2011) – Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman, presented a $50,000 check to Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) President Pat Murray at the ICAST Show in Las Vegas.

In an effort to raise awareness and funds for Gulf regions working to recover from the recent oil spill disaster, Sportsman Channel has created a special "Sportsman’s Fund" with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) to benefit Gulf coast habitat restoration and research.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal unveiled the “Louisiana Plan” to start restoring the state’s coastal areas, fisheries and oyster seed grounds from the devastating impact of the BP oil spill. The state will be submitting a list of projects to BP, the Department of Interior and NOAA, and the funding will come from a $1 billion agreement announced in April 2011 for early restoration of damaged natural resources resulting from the oil spill.

If logical requests to curtail the use of the most indiscriminate commercial gear in the ocean with targeted time and area closures are ignored, then perhaps it is time to acknowledge that the agency is simply incapable of responsibly managing this particular fishery. Perhaps it is time for other participants in this fishery to consider a larger vision, such as simply removing longline gear from the management regime altogether through a buyout program or similar efforts.

In recent years, someone who fishes offshore for snapper or grouper has had very little to be excited about. In fact, grasping the volume of changes to federal fishing regulations has been no easy task. Accepting and adjusting to those changes has been an even more daunting one.

NEW BEDFORD — A federal court judge has ruled firmly against New Bedford and Gloucester and in favor of NOAA in the contest over the legality of controversial catch shares and sector management of the Northeast fishery.

Ken Perrotte's outdoor column

Posted on June 30, 2011

ABRUPT CLOSURES of popular ocean fisheries in recent years by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Fisheries Service, some based on allegedly sketchy data, raised the ire of many anglers and conservation groups.